{"id":38910,"date":"2021-05-13T00:45:37","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T13:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/?p=38910"},"modified":"2021-05-20T10:54:58","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T23:54:58","slug":"geelong-arts-centre-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/news\/geelong-arts-centre-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Centre of attention: Statewide arts package supports Geelong Arts Centre redevelopment"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE state Labor Government will use its next budget to make Victoria the \u201cCreative State\u201d, with its arts package including funding to support the next stage of the redevelopment of the Geelong Arts Centre.<\/p>\n

Acting Premier James Merlino and Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson visited the Geelong Arts Centre on Tuesday this week to announce the statewide package ahead of the state Budget being handed down on May 20.<\/p>\n

The budget will allocate $6.3 million to keep the Geelong Arts Centre\u2019s programming active and support local jobs.<\/p>\n

This funding will provide safe, suitable accommodation for Geelong Arts Centre staff and allow the centre to stay open as work continues on the redevelopment on the centre\u2019s Little Malop Street side, which is expected to be finished in 2023 and create more than 600 construction jobs.<\/p>\n

The budget will confirm the funding required to continue the $140 million project to significantly expand the capacity of the Geelong Arts Centre with multiple new performance venues, an upgraded box office and refurbished back-of-house and administration facilities.<\/p>\n

Designed by Victorian architects ARM and being built by Lendlease, the redevelopment is described as \u201canother striking addition to Geelong\u2019s cultural landscape\u201d and \u201cfurthering the city\u2019s reputation as a UNESCO City of Design\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cVictoria is the cultural capital of our nation and this unprecedented investment will secure the immediate future of the industry, and make sure our creative offering is world-class for decades to come,\u201d Mr Merlino said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeelong Arts Centre is known for its high quality creative offering and vision, so it is great to make this announcement in a place where a new creative project is coming to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geelong Labor MP Christine Couzens said Geelong Arts Centre was a local institution that was embedded into the cultural and creative life of the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only does it showcase homegrown talent, it attracts creatives from across Victoria and indeed the nation,\u201d Ms Couzens said.<\/p>\n

The Creative State package also includes:<\/p>\n